The Rocket is back, but will he be enough to catch up with Pujols and the Redbirds? Will the Braves playoff streak finally come to an end? Will the AL East again come down to the greatest rivalry in sports. And will Bud Selig mercifully intervene and allow two AL wild cards in place of an AL West champion?
The short answer to all these questions is, I don't know, but we're a third of the way into the season and the postseason layout is slowly coming into focus on the horizon.
Rank (Pv)
Team
Record
Comments
1 (1)
33-19
The Thome trade was obviously pivotal for the White Sox, but in giving up Rowand they left a gaping hole in center. Starting CF Brian Anderson is only hitting .164, and Mackowiak, who has been more of a utility outfielder, has only hit .228 while playing center. It might be worth finding out if Pablo Ozuna can play the outfield, until a solid replacement can be found.
2 (2)
35-18
The Tigers have only won 5 of 13 games against opponents with a current winning percentage over .500. 75% of their games (40) have been against losing teams.
3 (3)
34-19
Ponson has bounced back from last season's horrid performance. He's 4-0 with a 2.92 ERA.
4 (4)
32-20
The Mets lead the majors in 1-run wins (14), and have only lost 4.
5 (5)
31-20
The Red Sox have been destroying the bottom half of the AL East, winning 15 of 19 games against the O's and Rays, while the rival Yankees have only played 8 games against the division cellar dwellers.
6 (6)
31-20
Three things are missing from Mike Mussina's otherwise Hall of Fame career. A World Series ring, a Cy Young Award, and a 20 win season. The Yankees last world championship was in 2000, the year before he joined the club, and the closest he came to a Cy Young was second in 1999. However, he has been in the top six 8 times in his career, won 5 gold gloves, and is currently on pace for a 22-3 season with a 2.42 ERA.
7 (7)
29-23
Payroll and rank: Yankees (1) $200,000,000; Red Sox (2) $120,000,000; Toronto Blue Jays (16) $72,000,000. And yet, they're only 2.5 games out.
8 (9)
30-22
Russ Ortiz is getting close to returning, which could be a valuable component as either long relief or a number four or five starter.
9 (11)
30-23
The Dodgers are not a team chock full of power hitters--JD Drew leads the team with 8 HR, followed by Nomar and Kent with 6 apiece--yet, they lead the National League in runs scored.
10 (8)
29-24
Griffey still has some pop in his bat (7 HR and 28 RBI in 27 games), but his days of hitting for average and playing gold glove defense are gone, which is a shame, because people have easily forgotten that not too long ago, Junior's swing and his defense were the two prettiest things in baseball.
11 (15)
28-25
Texas is an enigma. Since somebody has to win the AL West, I firmly believe the Rangers will be in the postseason, but (in the power rankings) they started out the season 20th, moved up to 18th, then 9th, back down to 12, then 14 then 15, and now, have jumped back up into the 11 slot.
12 (13)
28-25
I don't know that there's ever been a study done on this, but I think Dave Roberts is possibly the greatest gray-bearded basestealer of all time. He has 15 steals in 18 attempts this season, and since the beginning of the 2004 season he's stolen 76 bases in 94 attempts (.809).
13 (16)
28-25
The Braves win total has stayed the same or decreased every year since 2002. This year they are on pace for 86 wins which would be their lowest total since the strike shortened '95 season. Their current winning percentage (.528) is their lowest since 1990, when they only won 65 games.
14 (14)
27-25
It seems every week this spot is a home for bad news on the Philadelphia pitching front. With Randy Wolf and Cole Hamels already out for a while, Jon Lieber now might miss 3 weeks of action from a pulled groin.
15 (10)
27-27
So, Clemens has re-signed with the Astros like we all thought he would, but now, the question is, will it be too little, too late? Clemens won't make his first start until June 30th (if reports are correct), which means the Astros could be out of contention by then.
16 (12)
27-26
The Colorado Rockies have rolled into a tie for last place in the NL West, but the division which started out looking as weak as it was last year, is now the only division in baseball without a losing team.
17 (18)
27-26
Ticket for a chance to see Bonds make baseball history: Between $6 and $86. Estimated value of Bonds' 715th HR ball: $100-200,000. Price of Bonds' salary for one season: $20,000,000. Another pithy slogan to further obliterate Bonds' reputation and sense of self-worth: Priceless.
18 (17)
26-27
The Brewers stumble into this week with a 5 game losing streak and an atrocious 9-19 road record.
19 (19)
24-29
The A's are 5 games under .500, but only 4 games back of division leading Texas.
20 (20)
26-26
Although Wickman has looked a bit shaky at times (and fat), he has converted 24 consecutive save opportunities, the current longest streak in baseball.
21 (21)
25-28
Miguel Tejada is having another MVP caliber year, but really shouldn't receive much consideration because the O's are so far back. He leads the team in batting (.321), HR (14), RBI (40), and runs (41).
22 (22)
23-28
The news of the new Minneapolis ballpark is good. The Twins, however, are not.
23 (24)
23-29
The Angels are the only team in baseball with a payroll over $100 million and a winning percentage under .500. In fact, to be more precise, the Angels (.442) are the only $100 million team with a winning percentage under .600!
24 (23)
23-32
Just when Seattle had begun to show some life, pulling into within 2 games of the division leading Rangers, they step up to the challenge and lose their next 5 in row. The conclusion of May results in the Mariner's 13th consecutive losing month.
25 (25)
20-32
Well... There's always next year.
26 (26)
21-32
Carl Crawford had a huge week on the basepaths. He hit .484 and stole 8 bases... then sprained his ankle in an umpire-induced tantrum.
27 (27)
22-32
With all the stories of how difficult Frank Robinson is to deal with, it will be interesting to see how long he remains in the driver's seat if the Nats continue to hit like a little league team.
28 (29)
20-34
The all-star game is being held in Pittsburgh, and thanks to Jason Bay, they'll have exactly one player to cheer for. Bay is hitting .302 with 17 HR, and an OPS of 1.026 (3rd in the NL).
29 (28)
17-34
If there is a GM in baseball who didn't call the Marlins over the off-season and ask what it would take to get Miguel Cabrera or Dontrelle Willis-- they did not do their job very well.
30 (30)
13-38
The Royals were on fire last week. They ended a two week losing streak by winning not just one, but two games. Congratulations.
